Storm Hawks: The Yuuzhan Vong War

XI

As the days pass, more and more Terras fall before the night of the Yuuzhan Vong. During the course of this war, millions of people have been killed by the Yuuzhan Vong. Few Terras remain to continue the fight. Despite this, the Storm Hawks continue fighting the good fight as Master Cyclonis speeds up the restoration of the Malevolence. One day, the Storm Hawks along with Master Cyclonis and Dark Ace meet with Gundstaff in his lab to discuss the process on restoring the Malevolence.

Master Cyclonis: How fares the restoration?

Gundstaff: The Malevolence is nearly operational, but I'm afraid we've run into... unforseen complications.

Upon hearing this, the Storm Hawks were stunned at this. The main cannons of the Malevolence had the power to level Terras to the point of dramatically altering a Terra's geology.

Piper: What's wrong?

Gundstaff: The Crystals that once powered the main cannons have been destroyed.

Finn: Can't we get more?

Master Cyclonis: It's not that simple, Sky Knight. The Malevolence's main cannons are powered by Mars Crystals.

Piper: I've heard of them. They're very rare and very powerful.

Aerrow: Great. Where can we find them?

Master Cyclonis: I have a large supply of Mars Crystals in the Crystal Vault in my palace.

Upon hearing this, the Storm Hawks quickly realized that the Cyclonian Palace was currently under the control of the Yuuzhan Vong.

Stork: Great. Of course we have to go back to Cyclonia.

Master Cyclonis: Only Aerrow and Dark Ace will go. This is the best way we can acquire the Mars Crystals as fast as we can.

Dark Ace: I will not fail you, Master Cyclonis.

With that, preparations were made for the infiltration of the Cyclonian Palace. As Aerrow gather his equipment, a worried Piper approached him.

Piper: I don't like this, Aerrow. Maybe I should take your place.

Aerrow: I'll be fine, Piper. You're needed here. If anything happens to me, the Storm Hawks will need you to lead them. 

Hearing that deeply concerned Piper. Her feelings for Aerrow intensified since his near death experience. She didn't want him to go on this mission, but she knew that Aerrow wasn't going to change his mind. 

Piper: I want you to promise me something. 

Aerrow: What do you have in mind?

Piper: Please come back. Please come back to me. I...I don't want to lose you, Aerrow. 

Aerrow smiled as he hugged Piper. 

Aerrow: I'll be fine, Piper. I promise. 

As Aerrow made his promise to Piper, Dark Ace entered the room. Piper proceeded to leave the room. 

Dark Ace: I must admit, you just don't know when to quit. 

Aerrow: You should know by now that I'll never give up, Dark Ace.

Things grew tense between Aerrow and Dark Ace. For the longest time, they were mortal enemies. But in the current situation, they had to work together. 

Dark Ace: If it weren't for these invaders, you would already be dead. 

Aerrow: How many times have you made that threat, Dark Ace? 

Dark Ace: When I heard of your...death, I was devastated. I felt robbed to hear that some alien outsider took your life when it is mine to take. Nobody kills you but me. 

It was made clear to Aerrow that the rivalry between himself and Dark Ace would not end even in the chance of peace between the Sky Knights and the Cyclonian Empire. 

Aerrow: We don't have time for this, Dark Ace. We have more important things to worry about. We've been tasked to get the Mars Crystals so we can end this war. 

Dark Ace: And what do you expect to happen once we destroy the Yuuzhan Vong? You think both sides will concede to peace? Do you really expect peace between our factions? You and I both know that such a thing cannot be. 

Aerrow: Unlike you, I'm not in it for conquest. All I want is peace for Atmos. Like my father before me, I want to bring peace to Atmos. 

Upon hearing this, Dark Ace couldn't help but laugh. He remembered the day he betrayed and killed Lightning Strike above Terra Cyclonia ten tears ago during the war between the Sky Knights and the Cyclonian Empire. 

Dark Ace: Life's hardest choices are the ones that force you question your own moral code. My choices lead me here, standing against the those once I called brothers. Do I have any regrets? Do I feel shame for my actions? No. Not at all. These choices I made were mine to make and I have no regrets. History may brand me traitor, rebel, cutthroat and murderer. But in the end, it doesn't matter how history remembers me. History is written by the victors. When all is said and done, history will judge me however it wishes. It will not matter to me. What matters is that I made my own choices. What matters is that I followed my own code. Your father lacked the will to do what was necessary and it cost him dearly in the end. 

Dark Ace's words enraged Aerrow. Despite this, Aerrow kept his composure. As they finished their preparations, Aerrow and Dark Ace set out on their Skimmers for Terra Cyclonia to infiltrate the Cyclonian Palace in order to get into Master Cyclonis's Crystal Vault. There, they would search for the supply of Mars Crystals and get them back to the Gundsaff so that he could bring the Malevolence's main guns online for the fight against the Yuuzhan Vong.